Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-03-18
A COLoRED CAMP MEETING.
Weird Scenes Mt n Religious Gatherin ;
in North Carolina.

Weird Scenes mt n Religious CATHERINE
in North Carolina.
All preliminaries having been settled
the first minister ordered all to fall in
for the march 1.-TWO by two, preach
ers in front, men together, women
together. Instantly there was stir
among the people. The platform
was vacated, its occupants moving
by couples outside the arbor. The Others
followed, promiscuous throng. old and
young, all with preternaturally solemn
visages. Old men leaning on sticks
girls with 1.-the forms arrayed in gay col
ors, tall. lank women. fat, saucy looking
boys, muscular. large boned men. Thd
preacher from 1.-THE land of the sky
handed a book to his stalwart brother
who gave out the hymn, There's room
enough in heaven. The singer started
the tune. and with feet keeping time and
bodies swaying in unison the long string
of dusky worshipers began the farewell
march. Passing the nearer tents, then
retracing their steps for half the distance|
then turning toward those ON the right
of the quadrangle, the procession twist
ing snuously by all the huts in turn, rel
cciving constant additions as it passed
them, until nearly every colored person
on the ground was in line. Long before
the round was completed the sun
emerged from the clouds and shone hotly
upon the throng. The preachers, whose
heads were bare, spread their handker|
chiefs over them, keeping one hand OF
top all the time to prevent them from
being blown away.
The procession finally halted on thu
hillside. great circle of humanity. Thu
preachers entered it; at their order al
faced inward. Exhortations from several
brethren were addressed to the impeni
| tent, the ministers resumed their places
! and then there was countermarch id
single file, a circle within a circle, unit
each had shaken hands with every other
all singing and swaying to the music al
before. Finally the head of the process
sion emerged from the ring and started
for the arbor, the directing minister an(
most of those who followed having fallel
into a not ungraceful dancing step
They entered, the ministers and elder
marched to the platform. their tune am
steps growing livelier all the while
Some fifty of the women rushed into tn
open space. while the others fastened t
the benches and mounted them.
Those dancing in front of the platform
grew more and more excited: the
glided back and forth, twrling them
selves like tetotums, or leaped sewers
feet from the ground, all keeping tim
to the music. which waXed louder an
loader. The preachers We're moving i
every joint. patting their hands on thei
knees and stimulating the excitement
Some women dropped from eXhaustio
and were carried out; all were palliC
their breathing was labored and spa
modic; even the.preachers showed sign
of weakening. when suddenly one {
them raised his hand. Almost immed
ately the singing ceased and he manage
to say in a voice scarcely audible: "A
kneel and pray" The request wa
obeyed. In the midst of a quiet an
hush in strange contrast to the previou
noise and whirl, voice was heard, cleal
calm and not overload. asking God
blessing on their farewell Then
sonorous benediction was pronounced
and the great McElroy camp meeting c
1886 was over.-Cor. New York Com
mercial Advertiser.